Untitled Article

' By direction of the Prov . G . M . the present officers were retained in their offices for another year . The congratulations of the Lodge were presented to his lordship on the safe return of his gallant son , Bro . the Hon . Leicester Curzon , from the Crimea , with the despatches , anouncing the glorious capture of Sebastopol by the ^ allied armies ; and on his well-merited promotion as lieutenant-colonel , just announced . The other business was of a formal character .

SUFFOLK . i Testimonial to Sir E . S . Gooch , Bart , M . P ., Prov . G . M . " for Suffolk . —The subscription list is now closed , and the amount of money is , £ 152 . The portrait , painted by John Lucas , Esq ., will be completed by Christmas ; the presentation will take place at Southwold , in the spring of next year .

Beccles . —Provincial Gfrand Lodge .. —The annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Suffolk was held on September 19 , at Beccles , under the presidency of the R . W . Sir Edward Sherlock Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . M . The worthy baronet had invited many of the members of the Prov . G . L ., residents of the county at a distance , to his mansion at Benacre as his guests .

About seven o ' clock , a . m ., the day was ushered in by a merry peal of the musical bells of St . Michael ' s Tower , which was repeated at intervals during the day , and at an early hour the Brethren of the several Lodges in the Province began to assemble ; at one o ' clock p . m ., they went in procession to the Corn Exchange , where the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form . We regret to say , that from some scruples the doors of the church were closed

against the Fraternity by the rector ; the consequence was , the public were admitted by tickets to the Lodge-room after the business of the Prov . Grand Lodge was over , when an oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . G . Mingaye , P . G . Chap ., in which he regretted the necessity of addressing them in the present building instead of the church , a circumstance almost unknown in the annals of Freemasonry .

A collection was made amongst the Brethren in the Lodge , amounting to £ 13 . lis . 6 d ., and a further one at the doors of £ 6 . 12 s . 3 d ., making a total of £ 20 . 3 s . 9 d . which was handed over to the trustees of the Beccles Lying-in Institution .

At the close of the address the Brethren formed in order , and proceeded to the Assembly-rooms , where nearly one hundred Brethren partook of a most sumptuous banquet , which was admirably served by Bro . Harvey , of the White Lion Hotel , to whom every praise is due . Through the kindness and liberality of the Prov . G . M ., Sir E . Grooch , a most bountiful supply of champagne and venison assisted much to add to the creature-comforts of the Brethren .

During the banquet the gallery was filled with ladies , who seemed highly to enjoy the festivities of the occasion , and the patriotic airs of England and France , which were played by the band . Upon the removal of the cloth , grace was said by the P . G . Chap ., and the President , Sir E . Gooch , Prov . G . M ., gave the accustomed national toasts , which were received with the usual acclamation . The health of the bishop and clergy of the diocese was responded to by Bro . the Rev . Prebendary Burn , in the most eloquent terms .

The ladies having withdrawn from the gallery , the Prov . G . M . gave the usual toasts of the Craft , and at an early hour retired , accompanied by many of the Brethren . Amongst the many who were present , we noticed Bros . Robert Martin , Dep . P . G . M . ; J . Hatton , P . G . S . W . ; F . B . Strathern , P . G . J . W . ; A . Areedeckne , Capt . T . L . Gooch , Edward Dorling , Revs . F . W . Freeman , W . French , Prebendary Burn , G . Mingaye , and John Head , Capt . F . W . Ellis , C . T . Townsend , P . Allez , & c . & c . ; many visitors from the adjoining Province of Norfolk , and many Brethren from Norwich and Yarmouth . Very great credit is due to the W . M ., Bro . Garnham , and the Brethren of the Apollo Lodge , Beccles , for the manner in which they received the Prov . Grand